History of SSBTR
Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research (SSBTR) was founded in 2002, shortly after three students, from the Paradise Valley School District, died from brain tumors. When research pointed out that, other than leukemia, this particular disease was the number one cancer killer of teenagers, a decision was made to do something about it.
The organization was the brainchild of Steve Glassman, then Student Council Advisor at Pinnacle High School. Working with a small group of student volunteers, Mr. Glassman organized the first Walkathon in 2002. Four schools participated, 250 walkers were involved and $7,500 was raised for research.
Each year interest had grown enormously as more and more schools, and more and more students wanted to become involved. The day of the Walkathon, in February of 2009, there were almost 4,000 students at Pinnacle High School and, when everyone had finished circling the track, we passed $1 million of donations received since 2002. The money was distributed to the Barrow Neurological Center, Phoenix Children's Hospital, the National Brain Tumor Society, and TGen.
This organization and this event is totally run by students. In fact planning is well underway to have inaugural SSBTR Walk-a-thons in Flagstaff and Buffalo, NY in 2010 in addition to the 9th annual and 2nd annual Phoenix and Tucson Walk-a-thons respectively. The dedication the students exhibit and the time they put in is rewarded each year as brain tumor survivors come to the Walkathon to share their stories. The images of people wearing tee shirts that begin with the words "I survived" is all the reward these students need.